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How to Measure/Condition Rating

It's not unusual for great vintage clothing to have no label and no tag size (even when it does, it's much smaller than present-day sizing, except items from the '80's, which are larger). Confused yet? No worries. What really matters is a flattering fit. Here's how to get it.

Always compare vintage clothing measurements against a similar item that fits you comfortably before purchasing. We provide helpful info such as our estimation of equivalent modern sizes (see size conversion chart), as well as descriptions such as "body conscious," meaning the item was intended to be tight/revealing, but it is your responsibility to compare measurements against a like item. Also, take a moment to familiarize yourself with our condition rating system below, read descriptions carefully & use the zoom function to view photos, as returns are generally not accepted.

How to Measure:

Use a flexible measuring tape to determine:

Back shoulder seam to seam

Bust/Chest measured underarm to underarm then doubled

Waist measured natural waist then doubled

Hips measured 10” below the natural waist or at the widest area and doubled

Sleeves measured from top shoulder to cuff

Inseam measured on inside of leg from crotch to hem

Rise measured from crotch to top of waistband

Length measured from top of garment to hem, or, for skirts, from waist to hem

Hats: measure head with cloth tape measure at the widest part of your head, generally an inch or 2 above the ear. The measurement is your hat size, which is NOT the same as clothing size!

Gloves: (Dominant hand): from base of your wrist to the tip of your longest finger and around the wrist. Glove size is the larger of these two numbers.

Condition Rating:

Vintage items are previously owned and will have varying degrees of wear and signs of use. Even mint, new old stock (unused) items may have condition issues depending on how they were stored and in what kind of climate. We do our best to examine items closely, determine condition, & to highlight any flaws in photos & descriptions.

A "Fair" or "Poor' rating denotes not wearable as is, for collectors, museums or study. We may, in the exceptional case, offer goods that merit historic study or elaborate restoration. Such items may or may not be cleaned, because fragile antique textiles usually need professional restoration.